Wheel-harrow



(No Model.) v

T. D. GERE 8; B. MALTBY.

WH EL HARROW. No. 292.214.

Patented Jan. 22-, 1884.

min;

WI NESSES INVENTORS UNirnn STATES PATENT @FFICE.

THEODORE 1'). GERE, or ownco, NEW. YORK, AND BENJAMIN MALTBY, OF

- CLEVELAND, OHIO.

' WHEEL-HARROWi SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 292,214, dated January 22, 1854,

Application filed October 18, 1883. (N model.)

. exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to sulky-harrows, and

more especially to an actuating and locking device adapted to wheel-harrows, cultivators,

and similar implements; and it consists in certain features of construction and in combina tion of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 2 a side elevation, of a sulky-harrow and locking mechanism embodying our invention. Fig. 3 is an elevation in detail.

A are pieces that, with the cross-piece A, form a frame, to which are attached the toothbeams B, and preferably by spring-connections, as shown. The pieces A are hinged to the uprights a, that are attached to the crosspiece 0, that is supported by the draft-pole or thills O, the rear end of the latter being attached to the axle D, which is provided with the wheels D. The pieces E are hinged to the cross-piece G, and at the rear end support the seat E. Underneath the pieces E, and secured thereto by suitable boxes, is the shaft F, provided at each end with a crank-arm, f, that are connected, respectively, by the links f to the pieces A. 1

G is a toothed segment rigidlyattached to the shaft F, and G is a larger but similar segment attached to one of the pieces E. Operating between these segments, and journaled on the shaft F, is the hand-lever H, which is provided with spring-catches h and h, that engage, respectively, the segments G and G, and are operated by the levers m and n.

Suppose, for the sake of illustration, that the seat-frame is resting on the axle and the plow-frame is supported above the ground. N 0w, if it is desired to operate the device, the spring-catch h is disengaged from the segment G, which leaves the plow-frame to descend without exerting any power on thelever. As soon as the plows or teeth strike the ground, the driver, by disengaging the spring-catch h and segment G and engaging the spring-catch when the parts are locked by allowing the spring-catch h to engage the segment G.

To lower the seat frame to the axle, the driver grasps the lever and disengages the spring-catch h from the segment G lows the seat-frame to descend slowly until it rests on the axle. Then,by pushing on the lever H, the plow-frame is elevated and .retained above the ground by simply allowing the spring-catch h to engage the segment G. WVhen the plows or teeth are in engagement with the ground and the frame Eelevated and locked above the axle, the plows or teeth are not affected by a vertical movement of the axle D--such, for instance, by the wheelsD passing over, obstructions or into hollows. The adjustment may be such that when'the harrows enter the ground a desired depth the part E will come in contact weight of the driver rests directly on the plows,

and alaswould be caused 7 5 with the axle D, and will prevent the harrow from entering the ground to a greater depth. NVhen the parts are in the desired position, the lever n is released, and the attached springcatch it engages the toothed segment G and in either direction.

The segment G, the catch h, and the lever m might all be omitted and the lever H secured rigidly to the shaft F, were it not that the le- "locks the parts and holds them from moving ver would have to move through so great an 0 are that it would be very inconvenient-for the operator.

The upperends of the linksf are slotted longitudinally, and otherwise so loosely fitted to their respective wrists on the cranks afore saidthat the frame A may have considerable lateral movement, and for this purpose the pieces A are hinged in front with a universal joint. (Shown in Fig. 3.)

What we claim is- 1. In a wheel-harrow, cultivator, or other agricultural implement, the combination of a IOO hinged frame provided with plows or teeth, a hinged frame carrying the drivers seat, an axle interposed between the two frames, and mechanism connected with the frame carrying the drivers seat, whereby the plow or other frame can be held above the ground by the seat-frame resting on the axle, or the seat frame held above the axle by the plow resting 011 the ground, substantially as set forth.

2. In a wheel-harrow, cultivator, or other agricultural implement, the combination of a wheeled frame, a plow, or toothed frame, pivotally secured to the wheeled frame in front of the axle,a frame carrying the driversseat, pivotally secured to the wheeled frame in front of the axle, and mechanism connecting the seat and plow frames, whereby the weight of the seat-frame and driver can be thrown on the plow-frame, or the weight of the seat-frame and driver be supported by the axle while the plows or diggers are in the ground, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the axle and seat and plow frames, of the shaft, the segment secured to the seat-frame, the segment rigidly secured to the shaft, the lever loosely secured on the shaft between the segments and provided with spring-actuated catches, and the links f connecting the shaft and plow-frame, substantially set forth.

In testimony whereof we sign this specification, in the presence oftwo witnesses, this 8th day of October, 1883.

THEODORE 1). GERE. BENJAMIN MALTBY. Vitnesses:

CHAS. H. Donna, ALBERT E. LYNCH. 

